Participated · Series A · Jan 2025

Ouro Medicines develops immune reset therapeutics focused on B cell–driven chronic immune-mediated diseases. Its lead candidate, OM336, is a BCMA-directed bispecific T cell engager licensed from Keymed Biosciences. Keymed is studying OM336 (CM336) in an ongoing Phase 2 expansion in multiple myeloma in China; Ouro holds exclusive rights outside Greater China and plans to start a Phase 1 study in 2025. The company also intends to advance a pipeline of discovery programs targeting distinct B cell subsets and to apply protein engineering to next-generation TCEs. Ouro launched with a $120M Series A and has assembled experienced executive leadership and clinical advisors to support development.

Participated · Series B · May 2024

Elegen develops cell-free, microfluidics-based DNA synthesis and production technologies and markets the ENFINIA DNA product line for research and clinical workflows. The platform emphasizes longer, more complex, and faster DNA synthesis compared with traditional cell-based cloning, aiming to reduce synthesis failures, contamination, and hands-on time. Elegen commercialized ENFINIA DNA in Q1 2023, introduced higher-scale synthesis options in early Q4 2023, and in March launched a service for rapid synthesis of highly complex sequences. The company is focused on providing turnkey production of GMP-compliant DNA to support discovery and clinical development of genetic medicines. Recent plans supported by the financing include development of IVT-ready DNA, plasmid DNA and clinical-grade DNA production across clinical manufacturing workflows. Elegen also has a strategic collaboration with GSK to apply its cell-free DNA manufacturing technology to vaccines and medicines.

Led · Series C · May 2024

BioVersys AG is a venturelab-backed biotechnology startup focused on creating drugs capable of overcoming bacterial resistance to existing antibiotics. Its lead work seeks to address the growing global threat of antibiotic-resistant infections by restoring or enhancing antibiotic efficacy. The company was founded by Dr. Marc Gitzinger (CEO) and Dr. Marcel Tigges (CSO), who lead a team committed to translating their science into clinically relevant therapies. BioVersys recently secured CHF 2.5 million in seed financing, providing the capital needed to progress its drug development pipeline. The fresh funds establish a foundation for the next stages of research and development and position the firm for future clinical milestones. No revenue, user metrics, or additional financial figures were disclosed, reflecting the company’s early, pre-commercial stage.

Participated · Equity · Sep 2023

Sitryx Therapeutics is focused on regulating cell metabolism to develop disease-modifying therapeutics for chronic autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The company is building a broad, differentiated pipeline of proprietary therapies by identifying targeted approaches based on how changes in metabolism modulate immune cell function. Sitryx plans to use the new proceeds to progress its immunometabolism-targeting therapies into clinical development. Founded in 2018 by researchers including Houman Ashrafian, Luke O’Neill, Jonathan Powell, Jeff Rathmell, Michael Rosenblum and Paul Peter Tak, the company is led by CEO Neil Weir. Sitryx has prior financing history including seed funding from SV Health Investors and a $30 million Series A, and in 2020 it entered an exclusive global licensing and research collaboration with Eli Lilly, which also became an investor. Sitryx focuses on regulating cell metabolism to develop disease-modifying therapeutics in immuno-oncology and immuno-inflammation. The company was founded in 2016 by six researchers and is headquartered in Oxford, UK. Sitryx says it has a pipeline of projects at multiple stages of drug discovery, including two lead programs. Under the agreement with Eli Lilly, Sitryx will grant an exclusive worldwide license to develop and commercialize up to four immunometabolism-targeted therapeutics. The deal pairs Sitryx-led discovery with Lilly-funded and -managed clinical development and commercialization through a five-year research collaboration. Financially, Sitryx will receive a $50 million upfront payment and a $10 million equity investment and is eligible for development and commercialization milestones and royalties. Sitryx is a biopharmaceutical company focused on regulating cell metabolism to develop disease‑modifying therapeutics in immuno‑oncology and immuno‑inflammation. The company has built a pipeline of discovery‑stage projects across oncology and immuno‑inflammatory indications using differentiated chemistry approaches including small molecules, PROTACs and topical formulations. Sitryx’s proprietary science is supported through close collaboration with GSK, including access to certain GSK technologies and licensing of intellectual property and chemical matter. The company was founded with seed funding from SV Health Investors and has recruited experienced drug discovery leadership including CEO Neil Weir. Sitryx closed a $30 million Series A to advance its immunometabolism platform and develop disease‑modifying therapies. It is headquartered in Oxford, UK, and aims to leverage world‑leading academic founders and GSK drug discovery expertise to become a leader in immunometabolism.

Led · Equity · Sep 2022

SpringWorks Therapeutics is a precision-medicine biotech focused on targeted oncology programs led by nirogacestat, a gamma secretase inhibitor being developed as a potentiator of BCMA-targeted therapies. The company is studying nirogacestat in combination with GSK’s anti-BCMA ADC Blenrep in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, exploring use in earlier lines of therapy, and testing combinations with BCMA bispecific antibodies and CAR-T therapies from AbbVie and Pfizer. Its pipeline also includes the MEK inhibitor mirdametinib and a RAF fusion/dimer inhibitor, BGB-3245. SpringWorks expects its first drug launches next year and continues to advance a diversified clinical pipeline. Financially, the company announced a $225 million financing and a separate $75 million equity investment tied to an expanded collaboration with GSK. GSK will continue to fund most development costs and has pledged up to $550 million in additional milestone payments to support further studies and potential commercialization of the combination. SpringWorks Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company launched in 2017 that focuses on therapies for severe rare diseases and targeted oncology. Its lead development programs include nirogacestat, a gamma secretase inhibitor for desmoid tumors, and PD-0325901, a MEK 1/2 inhibitor for neurofibromatosis type 1-associated plexiform neurofibromas. PD-0325901 is also described as a potential backbone for combination therapies to treat metastatic solid tumors. The company began with licensed clinical therapies from Pfizer and leverages partnerships with patient groups, industry and academia. SpringWorks plans to advance its two late-stage programs toward potential regulatory approval and commercialization and expects two therapies to enter potentially pivotal studies in the first half of 2019. The $125 million Series B financing will support those programs, expansion of emerging targeted oncology programs, and future in-licensing and clinical collaborations. SpringWorks Therapeutics launched with rights to four clinical-stage experimental therapies from Pfizer and a stated focus on diseases with high unmet need. The company plans Phase 3 programs for nirogacestat (PF-03084014) in desmoid tumor and for the MEK 1/2 inhibitor PD-0325901 in NF1, and intends to assess senicapoc (PF-05416266) for hereditary xerocytosis and PF-0445784 (a FAAH inhibitor) for PTSD. SpringWorks says it will expand its pipeline by partnering with other life science companies and academic institutions and will work collaboratively with patient organizations such as the Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation, the Children’s Tumor Foundation, and Cohen Veterans Bioscience. Pfizer contributed both equity capital and royalty- and milestone-bearing licenses to the experimental therapies as part of the arrangement. The company emphasizes a collaborative business model designed to deliver both social and financial returns via partnerships with scientists, biopharma partners, patient groups, funders and philanthropists. The organization is led by industry veterans including Founder and President Lara S. Sullivan; the announcement was datelined New York.